One could say that Taraje Williams-Murray (Brooklyn, N.Y./60kg) always has been prone to success at a young age.

After all, he finished high school and enrolled at Long Island University at age 15. By 17 he qualified for the Junior World Team. And at 19 he was competed at the Athens Olympic Games, the youngest member of the U.S. Men's Judo Team by at least eight years.

And on Sunday, Williams-Murray marked another milestone, competing in his first senior World Championships in Cairo , Egypt and matching the best finish for an American - Valerie Gotay's (Temecula, Calif/57kg) ninth place result Saturday.

Williams-Murray opened the day with a loss to eventual fifth place finisher Revazi Zintiridis (GRE) as he was thrown for ippon (instant win) by seoi nage (shoulder throw), but advanced to the repechage where he met his Candian rival, Frazer Will, whom he defeated by waza-ari (half-point) in five minutes. Next up was a win over Navjat Chana (IND) by ippon in four minutes, eighteen seconds before falling to David Larose (FRA) in another five minute match by waza-ari.

"Taraje was a real professional today," said Head Coach Eddie Liddie (Colorado Springs, Colo.) "He lost the first match, but shook it off and fought well during the next three. Taraje showed that he'll only get better in the next few years."

Sayaka Matsumoto (El Cerrito, Calif./48kg) drew a first round bye and lost in the second to Ann Simons (BEL) who would later finish fifth. Simons lost her next round to Ok Song Pak (PRK), eliminating Matsumoto.

Kirk Hoffmann (Colorado Springs, Colo./+100kg) was caught in the first round with a double-leg takedown of the Open division, losing to Daniel Hadfi (HUN/100kg) by ippon in 2:32. Hadfi lost in the third round to Georgi Kizilashvili (GEO), eliminating Hoffmann.

Heidi Moore (Englewood, Colo./+78kg) lost in the first round of the Open division to Houda Miled (TUN/70kg) by ippon in 4:07. Miled then lost toYuliya Barysik (BLR/+78kg), eliminating Moore.

Note: Weights indicated in the Open division refer to the division in which these athletes competed earlier this week at Worlds. Athletes with no weight division referenced are only competing in the Open division.

"Overall, I'm really proud of how our team did," Liddie said. "We knew this was a young team, but they all proved themselves. We know what we need to work on and this is just the first step on the way to what will hopefully be a successful Worlds in 2007 and Olympics in Beijing."

Liddie, also head coach of the Olympic Training Center Judo Team was joined on the coaching staff by Jason Morris (Scotia, N.Y.), owner of the Jason Morris Judo Club.